I have to say, I'm not a coffee drinker, but winter calls for warm beverages especially when you've been exploring Madison all day. We wondered in to get a mug of something steamy and non-java. What we found was a sunny, airy place to enjoy a conversation and rest a bit.
The small cafe offers a range of drinks as well as desserts and sandwiches. I ordered a chai latte and a peanut butter stacker and my friend went with a hot chocolate and a lemon bar. My chai was spicy and hot, but very watery. The dessert, on the other hand, was sublime!
Layers of chocolate cake with crunch, peanut butter meringue, chocolate ganache and caramel were topped with candied peanuts. It reminded me of a Whatchamacallit bar. So delicious and a steal at under $4. I would have paid a lot more for this in a Louisville bakery or restaurant.
I tasted the lemon bar which had a good flavor but would have been improved by a slight warming in microwave (as they had done with mine). The hot chocolate was as to be expected. Both were very reasonably priced.
I'll stop by Red Roaster when I'm next in Madison. It's a sweet place to rest a bit and indulge in some tasty treats.